Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians

Kohler, Wolfgang

Kohler, Wolfgang, piano, comp. Teacher; b. Hofgeismar, West Germany, 15 October 1960. He's the son of Walter and Erika Kohler, farmers. He has a brother Harald (born 1959) and a sister Christine (born 1969). He began taking classical lessons at the age of 8 with Mrs. Wrba, and later with Prof.Bender and Mr. Menzel.

He started playing jazz in 1977. From 1978 to 1981, he toured with the bebop band "Just Friends." Since then, he's had a close relationship to the musical leader of that formation, Allan Praskin (as). There were tours in Germany, Swiss and Austria, and festival appearances in Zurich and Leipzig 1980 a.o. Since 1980, he's been living in Berlin (the former west side). He studied at the Hochschule der Kunste with Prof. Kuhnert, and had private studies with Walter Norris and Etzel Gundlich. He received a diploma in teaching (SMP) in 1985. As a freelance musician, he toured with the Lou Blackburn (tb) international Quartet (1982-86) and the popular comedian Karl Dall (1980-85).